Andrew Phillip Nelson, 29, of Hollywood
UPDATE 5/14/2025: The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office is searching for Andrew Phillip Nelson, 29, of Hollywood, after he removed a GPS monitoring device while on pre-trial release for assault charges.
Deputies responded to the 43000 block of Saint Johns Road in Hollywood on April 21, 2025, after receiving a tampering alert from Nelson’s assigned GPS monitor. Upon arrival, deputies located the device and a witness reported observing Nelson using bolt cutters to remove it.
Nelson was initially arrested on March 21, 2025, after deputies responded to a disturbance at his residence on Sandy Bottom Road. According to the arresting officer’s statement, Nelson approached deputies covered in blood and exhibiting signs of intoxication. He initially claimed to have been attacked by another individual but offered varying accounts of the events.
The investigation revealed that Nelson had allegedly forced entry into a locked bedroom using a knife to unlock the door. Witnesses reported that he became aggressive, punched a male victim in the face, and attempted to fight multiple individuals inside the residence. One witness stated that Nelson was acting erratically and had struck her, though she declined to pursue police action.
Based on witness statements and observed injuries, Nelson was charged with first-degree assault and second-degree assault. On March 21, 2025, a judicial officer ordered that he be held without bond. However, Judge Karen Christy Holt Chesser later granted his release on his own recognizance during a bail review hearing held on March 24, 2025, placing him under pre-trial supervision.
Court records show that a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 15, 2025, was dismissed and a trial set for April 29, 2025, was not held due to Nelson failing to appear. A bench warrant was issued that same day.
Anyone with information about Nelson’s whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Joseph Bowling at Joseph.Bowling@stmaryscountymd.gov or at 301-475-4200, ext. 1959.
According to court documents, Nelson was arrested on March 21, 2025, after deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance at a residence on Sandy Bottom Road shortly after midnight.
Upon arrival, the responding deputy reported hearing yelling from a nearby home. As the deputy approached the scene, a man identified as Nelson was seen walking toward him with blood on his face and clothing. According to the officer’s report, Nelson had a bloody nose, red marks across his back, and appeared to be highly intoxicated.
Nelson’s explanation of the incident changed multiple times. At first, he claimed he had been playing video games when a family member entered the room and began attacking him. “I didn’t fight back,” Nelson reportedly said, “I wasn’t going to fight my brother.” He later stated that he had been knocking on the bedroom door when the other individual came out and punched him. Nelson further shifted his account from being attacked by one person to being assaulted by two.
The adult male victim told deputies that everyone at the house had been drinking, and Nelson had consumed far too much. The victim said that after asking Nelson to leave his room, Nelson became agitated—especially over a girl who was present. After being asked to leave, Nelson reportedly spent approximately three hours knocking on the locked door and yelling vulgarities. The victim said he and others in the room felt trapped and feared for their safety.
At one point, according to the victim, Nelson allegedly used a knife to unlock the door and force entry. Once inside, Nelson “came after him with the knife,” prompting the victim to knock the weapon away. Nelson then allegedly punched him in the face. Deputies observed swelling and bruising around the victim’s right eye. The victim said he struck Nelson once in return to defend himself.
One female witness told deputies that Nelson was “violent” and “acting crazy.” She stated that Nelson struck her but did not wish to pursue police action. She recalled locking herself in the bedroom with the others as Nelson banged on the door, trying to get in. While she did not see the knife, she stated that Nelson broke into the room and began attacking the victim.
A second male witness described Nelson’s behavior throughout the night as “crazy.” He said the group had locked themselves in the room, hoping Nelson would calm down. Instead, Nelson allegedly used a knife to attempt unlocking the door. According to this witness, Nelson eventually forced his way in and came at the victim with the knife before the victim managed to disarm him. He stated that Nelson then punched the victim in the face. When they tried to shut the door again, Nelson “rammed” it open and continued swinging at the victim. After a brief struggle, the witnesses were able to push Nelson out of the residence.
Following the incident and statements from those involved, Nelson was taken into custody and charged with:
First-Degree Assault (Felony)
Second-Degree Assault (Misdemeanor)
He was initially held without bond at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center. However, at a bail review hearing on March 24, 2025, he was released on his own recognizance by Judge Karen Christy Holt Chesser.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 15, 2025, at the St. Mary’s District Court in Leonardtown.
Andrew Phillip Nelson, 29, of Hollywood
